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Beyoncé Is Officially Playing Nala in The Lion King Remake

More like Lion Queen. By Erica Gonzales

Getty/Disney

Update, 11/1: Beyoncé has officially joined the cast of The Lion King‘s live-action remake as the voice of Nala. The superstar just made the announcement on Facebook and revealed who else was cast in the upcoming film.

News of Bey’s casting arrives nearly eight months after it was first reported that she was offered the role. There were also rumors that the Grammy-winner is producing the film’s soundtrack, but she hasn’t commented on those reports just yet.

Queen Bey will be joined by other stars in the cast of the Disney remake, including Donald Glover as Simba, James Earl Jones as Mufasa (whom he voiced in the 1994 original), Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Alfre Woodard as Sarabi, John Kani as Rafiki, John Oliver as Zazu, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, Erica André as Azizi, Florence Kasumba as Shenzi, and Keegan-Michael Key as Kamari. Child actors JD McCrary and Shahadi Wright Joseph also join the cast as young Simba and Nala, respectively.

The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau, is slated to hit theaters on July 19, 2019.

Original story, 3/10: Two kingdoms collide: Beyoncé is the top choice to voice Nala (Simba’s love interest) in the Lion King reboot, sources told Variety.

It is still not confirmed whether the singer is will join the project since she’s pregnant with twins (she even had to cancel her highly-anticipated Coachella gig), insiders told the magazine. But since it’s a voice-over role and she won’t be onscreen, the studio and director Jon Favreau “will do whatever it takes to accommodate her schedule,” sources added.

If Bey says yes, she’ll join a cast that includes Donald Glover, who’s voicing Simba, and James Earl Jones, who’s voicing Mufasa, which he also did in the original animated movie in 1994. (Maybe we can push for Blue Ivy to voice a young Nala? We already know she’s a Disney fan.)

If there’s music included in this reboot, just imagine how magical “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” will be.